(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Imam Khamenei added: “The great Iranian nation will no doubt achieve the high status internationally which it truly deserves, and the Iranian people have every hope for the future”.
In a meeting on Wednesday with top industrialists and top managers and business leaders from the private sector, as well as captains of industry, and top managers from the banking, service and agricultural sectors, the Leader called for re-doubled effort to speed up the implementation of Iran’s development and industrialization plans, adding: “Thanks to the efforts of Iran’s industrialists, scientists and engineers, eye-catching progress has been made in many different sectors, and this is truly a source of national pride and honour, and the general public should be made aware of this”.
In further remarks, Imam Khamenei referred to stepped up efforts by the enemies to put more pressure on Iran, saying the real objective behind sanctions (against Iran) is to cripple Iran’s economy. Imam Khamenei added: “The nuclear issue is not the real reason for sanction, since sanctions against Iran started 32 years ago, and at that time there was no civilian nuclear energy programme in Iran”
Turning to the intelligent way in which Iranian officials and the Iranian people have dealt with the issue of sanctions, Imam Khamenei said: “If sanctions were effective, then in the early years of the Islamic revolution the enemies would have achieved their objectives”.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Imam Khamenei emphasized that setting out Iran’s achievements does not mean, of course, that weak points, deficiencies and shortcomings should be ignored – however when we do mention weaknesses or shortcomings, we must do so in a positive way, to deny our enemies the chance to portray Iran’s realities upside down.
Imam Khamenei added: “One of the techniques used by the enemy in psychological warfare is to dishearten the people, particularly young people, the younger generation which is active – thus the general public should always be well-informed of Iran’s considerable progress and advancement, and the country’s huge resources and capabilities”.
Referring to projects already completed, particularly as part of Iran’s fourth five-year development plan, Imam Khamenei said: “Some of the goals of the Fourth Development Plan, such as 8 percent economic growth rate, reducing unemployment, and reducing inflation have not been achieved, and this is why it is so important that as part of the fifth five-year development plan we redouble our efforts to make up for these shortcomings”.
Turning to Iran’s exports, Imam Khamenei referred to substantial increase in Iran’s non-oil exports in recent years adding: “The expectation is that non-oil exports should out-grow imports by a substantial margin”.
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